Osaka Governor, Mayor Ready for Elections over Metropolis Plan

Osaka, Jan. 16 (Jiji Press)–Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura and Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama on Friday tendered their resignations to run in subsequent elections in an attempt to push for the so-called Osaka metropolis plan for local government realignment. Their resignation letters were submitted to the speakers of the prefectural and city assemblies, respectively. The metropolis plan is a signature policy of the Japan Innovation Party, led by Yoshimura. On the same day, the Osaka prefectural election board decided to hold a gubernatorial election on Feb. 8, coinciding with a likely election for the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Japan’s parliament. The mayoral election is also expected to be held on that date. “Through the election campaign, I want to highlight the need for the metropolis plan,” Yoshimura told reporters at the prefectural government office after tendering his resignation. Speaking at city hall, Yokoyama said, “Now that I have made a decision, I want to move forward firmly along the path I believe in.” If voting takes place on Feb. 8, the official campaign for the gubernatorial election is expected to begin on Thursday, with campaigning for the mayoral election seen to start on Jan. 25. As efforts to select candidates outside the JIP have not progressed, the elections could turn into walkovers for the two incumbents. Two political groups comprising the Japanese Communist Party and labor unions said Friday that they would not field any candidates in the gubernatorial and mayoral races. Still, Yoshimura said, “I believe others will run in the elections, as many politicians oppose the metropolis plan.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]